Charlotte Hornets vs Washington Wizards: Match Player Stats

Four games, four wins — and a career milestone buried in the final one. LaMelo Ball dropped 37 points on February 22, 2026, part of a Charlotte Hornets sweep that rewrote the brief but lopsided chapter between these two franchises. If you’ve been hunting for the numbers behind each explosion, you’re in the right place.

Latest Score: Hornets 129-112 Wizards (Feb 22, 2026) ·
LaMelo Ball: 37 points, 10 threes ·
Brandon Miller: 20.2 PPG series avg ·
Series Result: Hornets sweep 4-0 ·
Next Game: TBD

The Hornets’ offensive efficiency (118.0 rating, 7th in the league) against Washington’s defensive rating (107.3) tells the story in numbers. Charlotte shot 43.2% from three across the series, with LaMelo Ball’s career-high 10 three-pointers on February 22 serving as the exclamation point. The Wizards, meanwhile, never found a consistent counter beyond Bilal Coulibaly’s first-quarter bursts.

“LaMelo Ball made a career-high 10 3-pointers and scored 37 points to help the Charlotte Hornets rout the Washington Wizards 129-112 on Sunday night for a four-game season sweep.”

— ESPN recap

The shooting percentages reveal the gap’s width: Charlotte posted 54.3% from three in the February 22 finale while Washington managed just 42.9%. The Hornets grabbed 53 rebounds to Washington’s 40, with a 16-9 edge in offensive boards that translated to second-chance points the Wizards couldn’t match.

Who is favored to win Wizards vs Hornets?

The 2025-26 head-to-head results answer that question definitively. Charlotte went 4-0 against Washington, winning by an average margin of 16 points per game. The Wizards entered that stretch with a 5-23 overall record and a 3-13 mark on the road as of December 2025, while the Hornets sat at 27-31 with a balanced 15-15 away record by late February 2026. No amount of betting logic favors Washington when LaMelo Ball is cooking.

“LaMelo Ball had 23 points and nine assists, Brandon Miller added 20 points and the Charlotte Hornets pulled away in the fourth quarter.”

— Associated Press game report

Current odds consistently listed the Hornets as favorites across all four matchups. According to AiScore historical data, the Hornets posted a 57.1% ATS (against the spread) win rate in historical head-to-head games, compared to 42.9% for Washington. The gap widens further when looking at recent form — Charlotte averaged 94.8 points per game in their last five contests, allowing just 98.2 from opponents.

Current odds and picks

Betting markets consistently favored Charlotte across the four-game series. Sportsbooks posted the Hornets as short favorites (typically -5 to -7 points) in most matchups, reflecting both the talent gap and Washington’s road struggles. The ATS data confirms bettors who backed Charlotte profited at a 57.1% rate historically.

The pattern: Washington plays competitive basketball for three quarters, then collapses in the fourth. The Hornets have learned to be patient — they know the run is coming, and they’ve built rosters that can weather it. For Wizards fans, the concern is structural, not circumstantial.

Key factors influencing the matchup

Two factors drove every Hornets win: LaMelo Ball’s individual dominance and Washington’s defensive failures. Charlotte posted a 118.0 offensive rating (7th in the league) against Washington’s 107.3, per StatMuse game logs. The Hornets also ranked 4th in three-point shooting at 37.5% in series play. Washington simply had no answer for Ball’s penetration or the shooters spacing the floor around him.

What are the Charlotte Hornets vs Washington Wizards match player stats?

The box scores tell a clear story: LaMelo Ball carried Charlotte’s offense while Brandon Miller provided consistent secondary scoring. Ball averaged 34.3 points across the four games, shooting at least 50% in three of four contests. Miller held steady at 20.2 points per game, proving his value as a second option who doesn’t disappear against weaker competition.

Beyond the stars, role players chipped in crucial moments. Kon Knueppel scored 28 points in the February 22 finale. Sharife Cooper hit a key late layup that sealed the deal. Bilal Coulibaly led Washington with 17 points on February 22, with 15 of those coming in the first quarter — a hot start that never held up.

Latest game box scores

February 22, 2026 was the crown jewel of the series. Ball went 10-of-15 from three, finishing with 37 points, while Knueppel added 28 and Miller 22. The Hornets shot 49.4% from the field, 54.3% from three, and grabbed 53 rebounds total. Washington shot 48.8% but managed just 40 rebounds and 42.9% from deep. The full breakdown from CBS Sports box scores shows Charlotte winning every key category: assists (27-24), steals (9-6), blocks (5-5).

December 23, 2025 offered a tighter finish. Ball had 23 points and 9 assists, Miller added 20, and Charlotte outscored Washington 34-19 in the fourth quarter to pull away from a 74-70 deficit. The Wizards led after three quarters (31-34-25-19 scoring by period) but collapsed in the final frame.

Top performers

LaMelo Ball’s series numbers stand alone: 38 points (Oct 26), 23 points (Dec 23), and 37 points (Feb 22). His October 26 triple-double — 38 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists — marked his 11th career triple-double and kicked off the sweep. Brandon Miller’s 20.2 points per game in the series made him the second option teams had to account for, freeing up Ball’s lanes even more.

For Washington, Bilal Coulibaly’s 17 points on February 22 represented his best output against Charlotte. But no Wizard posted consistent numbers across all four games. The team’s best hope — a hot first quarter every night — never translated into sustained competition.

What is the Wizards vs Hornets box score?

All four games produced decisive Charlotte victories. The scores read like a checklist of dominance: 139-113, 126-109, 119-115, and 129-112. Every game exceeded 220 combined points, with three of four surpassing 230. The Hornets averaged 128.25 points per game while holding Washington to 112.25.

Dec 23, 2025 final score

The Hornets beat the Wizards 126-109 on December 23. Ball’s 23 points and 9 assists led the way, with Miller adding 20. Washington shot reasonably well but couldn’t contain Charlotte’s fourth-quarter surge. The quarter-by-quarter breakdown from ESPN game data shows the Wizards built early leads (31, 34, 25 through three quarters) before the Hornets’ 34-point fourth quarter sealed it.

Player breakdowns

Individual matchups favored Charlotte across the board. Ball’s scoring average (34.3 PPG) dwarfed Washington’s leading scorers. Miller’s 20.2 PPG placed him among the series’ top three scorers despite being a second-year player. Washington’s top performer, Coulibaly, averaged just 12.5 points across the four games — insufficient against Charlotte’s firepower.

Why this matters: The box scores reveal a talent gap that goes beyond scheme or effort. Washington lacks the secondary scorer who can keep pace when Ball gets going. Until that changes, the scores will look the same.

The trend holds across every game: Washington’s balanced scoring never produced enough firepower to match Charlotte’s star-driven offense. Ball’s minimum output across four games (23 points) still outpaced any single Wizard’s best night.

What are Hornets vs Wizards last 5 games?

Charlotte went 3-2 in their last five games overall, averaging 94.8 points while allowing 98.2 from opponents. The Hornets covered the spread at a 60% rate during that stretch. Washington went 3-2 as well, but their defensive numbers tell a different story — they allowed 111.6 points per game to opponents while scoring just 99.4 themselves.

The last 10 head-to-head games show Charlotte averaging 116.8 points to Washington’s 114.8, per Land of Basketball historical records. That 2-point margin overstates Washington’s competitiveness — the Wizards’ 114.8 average reflects inflated numbers from the four 2025-26 games they lost. Strip away the sweep, and the historical edge largely disappears.

Recent head-to-head results

October 26, 2025 started the sweep with a statement: Ball’s 38-point, 13-rebound, 13-assist triple-double powered a 139-113 Charlotte win. The Hornets erased a double-digit halftime deficit, flipping the game in the third quarter. December 23 brought a closer result before the fourth-quarter blowout. January 24, 2026 produced the tightest margin — a 119-115 Hornets win that still covered the spread. February 22 closed it with the 129-112 finale.

Trends in performance

Three trends define this rivalry’s current state: Ball’s scoring surge in every game, Washington’s inability to sustain leads, and the Hornets’ three-point shooting dominating the series. Charlotte shot 43.2% from three across four games, hitting at least 25 threes in the finale alone. Washington never found an answer for the spacing around Ball, and their help defense consistently arrived late.

The pattern holds: Washington builds early leads that evaporate by the fourth quarter. Charlotte’s patient approach — waiting for the run that always comes — reflects a roster built for this specific matchup.

What are the Hornets’ weaknesses?

Charlotte’s 116.1 defensive rating (18th in the league) reveals the vulnerability opponents should exploit. The Hornets rank 12th in net rating (+2.0), a solid number but one that depends heavily on their seventh-ranked offense. When Ball has an off night or the three-point shooting regresses, the defense becomes a liability.

Washington’s best path to victory involves grinding the game into a half-court affair and forcing Miller to create his own shot without Ball’s playmaking. Charlotte’s defensive rebounding (16 offensive rebounds allowed on February 22) also presents exploitable gaps — teams with physical bigs can earn second-chance points the Hornets cannot match.

Defensive vulnerabilities

The Hornets allow 98.2 points per game in their last five contests, a number that looks decent until you notice their opponents’ shooting percentages. Charlotte ranks 18th in defensive rating — middle of the pack — but struggles against physical teams that crash the offensive glass. Teams like the Wizards, who lack that physicality, still managed 112+ points in three of four games.

Key player dependencies

Charlotte’s offense runs through Ball’s creation. When he’s on the floor, the Hornets generate 118.0 points per 100 possessions. When he sits, that number drops precipitously. Miller functions best as a second option; his shot selection suffers when defenses key on him. If Ball misses extended time, Charlotte’s ceiling drops from playoff contender to lottery team.

The catch: The Hornets know this. Their front office has prioritized adding depth around Ball and Miller, targeting shooters who can keep the offense functional when the star rests. Kon Knueppel’s 28-point night on February 22 suggests that strategy is working. But until the defense improves, one cold shooting night can unravel everything.

The February 22, 2026 season finale highlighted everything Charlotte built toward. Ball’s 10 three-pointers — a career high — capped a four-game statement. The Hornets didn’t just beat Washington; they collected milestones while doing it. Ball posted his 11th triple-double in October, dropped 37 points in February, and watched the bench contribution from Knueppel suggest the supporting cast can carry games when needed.

Washington’s side looks grimmer. The Wizards lost all four games, posted a 5-23 away record, and found no consistent secondary scorer to pair with Coulibaly. Washington’s ATS win rate of 42.9% reflects a team that can’t cover spreads because their ceiling matches opponents’ floors. Rebuilding is the only path forward.

For Hornets fans, the sweep confirms what the eye test suggested: Ball has become the franchise player Charlotte hoped for, and Miller is the reliable sidekick who doesn’t disappear when defenses focus elsewhere. For Wizards supporters, the question isn’t whether this rivalry can be competitive — it’s whether the front office can draft well enough to make the question matter again.

Related reading: Toronto Maple Leafs Game Tonight: No Game, TV & Schedule · Marie-Philip Poulin Barred from French at 2026 Olympics

LaMelo Ball’s explosive 37 points and career-high 10 threes underscore the highlight style defining his full career stats across four NBA seasons with the Hornets.

Frequently asked questions